Cytopathology Clinical Fellowship Program

Environmental Description

The training program is through the Department of Pathology of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine at its UPMC Health System specialty women's hospital - Magee-Womens Hospital (MWH) - and its tertiary care adult multi-specialty hospital - UPMC Presbyterian.

Magee-Womens Hospital

This training rotation is in the Department of Pathology at Magee-Womens Hospital (MWH) of the UPMC Health System. This tertiary care specialty women's hospital is the primary training site for all clinical specialty training in women's health and is among the most competitive nationally for training programs in Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. As the Womencare program in the region MWH has an extensive referral network through its community based Womencare centers and Satellite Clinics and does over 50,000 mammograms per year. This strong breast program together with its affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) provides the core of both the breast cancer and gynecological oncology programs of MWH.

The Pathology Department at Magee-Women's Hospital is the primary site for anatomical pathology training in women's health including gynecological pathology, gynecological oncology, breast pathology, cytopathology, sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive endocrinology, and developmental pathology including perinatal pathology.

The Department of Pathology has 10 anatomical pathologists - 5 with subspecialty certification in Cytology - and handles 20,000 surgicals, 140,000 Pap smears, 3,500 non-gynecological cytology cases, and 100 perinatal autopsies. The surgical pathology material includes over 500 new breast cancer cases, and over 400 new gynecological oncology cases per year. Gynecological pathology cases include vagina, cervix, endometrium, fallopian tube and ovary. The perinatal program serves an obstetrical service of over 9,000 deliveries per annum.

In addition the cytopathology fellows work with GMT III through GMT V residents of the general residency program during their one to two month cytology rotation at MWH.

UPMC Presbyterian

The fellowship rotation at UPMC Presbyterian primarily focuses on Non-gynecologic Cytopathology. Integration of knowledge and experience from other disciplines (especially surgical pathology, hematopathology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics) is emphasized. UPMC Presbyterian is an adult tertiary care hospital and the Department of Pathology provides service to all specialty clinical disciplines represented. There are 26 anatomic pathologists, of whom 5 have subspecialty certification in Cytopathology by the American Board of Pathology.

The Department of Pathology handles 30,000 surgical pathology cases and 12,000 cytopathology cases, of which 60% are non-gynecologic and 40% are gynecologic. Daily signout is performed with the Faculty member on the cytopathology service. The fellow on service reviews and documents his/her opinion on the cases each day and evaluates the following points 1) screening adequacy, 2) Interpretation of the findings, 3) clinical significance.

Furthermore, the Department participates in Fine Needle Aspirations in three settings - in clinic by clinicians, by radiologists, and by pathologists. Our fellows are integrally involved in the following:

  • Evaluation of specimens obtained by Radiologists (CT, US, Mammogram).
  • FNA directed by Cytopathologist (on superficial palpable lesions).
  • Participating in FNA procedures in Otolaryngology Clinic in cooperation with the ENT faculty and housestaff.

Accreditation

The Cytopathology Fellowship Pathology training program falls under the training license of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. It is approved by the American Society of Cytology for three trainee fellowship positions per year, and is ACGME approved. Trainees are eligible for specialty boards at the completion of the one year training.

    Walid E. Khalbuss, M.D., Ph.D., F.IAC
    Associate Professor of Pathology
    Director, Cytopathology Fellowship Program
    Department of Pathology
    University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
    UPMC Shadyside, POB2-Suite 201
    5150 Centre Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA

    Office Phone: 412-623-3790
    FAX: 412-623-4779
    Email Address: khalbussw2@upmc.edu